Storage unit for modular workstation

ABSTRACT

A storage unit is disclosed. The storage unit includes a pair of opposed side walls that are substantially parallel to each other, a rear wall that connects the side walls at rear portions thereof, and a top wall that connects the side walls at top portions thereof. The top wall and the side walls define an opening for receiving objects to be stored within the storage unit. The storage unit also includes a cross member that is connected to each side wall, disposed below the top wall, and cooperates with the top wall to define a door receiving space within the storage unit, and a door constructed and arranged to cover the opening when the door is in a closed position, and to be received by the door receiving space when the door is in an open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to modular workstations. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a storage unit for amodular workstation.

2. Description of Related Art

Storage units with flipper-type doors that are used for modularworkstations are typically classified in one of two categories. First,there are units that store the doors on the outside of the unit, i.e.above the unit, when the door is in an open position. Such a unit isdescribed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,847. While such a designallows the full interior space to be utilized, objects may not be placedon top of such a unit without hindering the movement of the door.

Second, there are units that store the doors inside of the unit, asdescribed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,566. Although such adesign allows objects to be placed on top of the unit, withoutobstructing the door when the door is opened and closed, fill use of theinterior is lost when the door is in an open position, because the doorblocks one of the interior walls of the unit.

Moreover, doors that are stored in the interior of the storage unit havethe risk of being scratched and dented, particularly at the top of thedoor, when the tolerance between the door and the lower edge of the roofof the storage unit is not large enough. If the door becomes misaligned,there is a risk that the top edge of the door may not quite clear thefront edge of the roof, and damage to the door may occur.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a storage unit witha flipper-type door that stores the door on the inside of the unit, yetoptimizes the useable space within the storage unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, a storage unit is provided. Thestorage unit includes a pair of opposed side walls that aresubstantially parallel to each other, a rear wall that connects the sidewalls at rear portions thereof, and a top wall that connects the sidewalls at top portions thereof. The top wall and the side walls define anopening for receiving objects to be stored within the storage unit. Thestorage unit also includes a cross member that is connected to each sidewall, disposed below the top wall, and cooperates with the top wall todefine a door receiving space within the storage unit, and a doorconstructed and arranged to cover the opening when the door is in aclosed position, and to be received by the door receiving space when thedoor is in an open position.

In an embodiment, a storage unit is provided. The storage unit includesa pair of opposed side walls that are substantially parallel to eachother, a rear wall that connects the side walls at rear portionsthereof, and a top wall that connects the side walls at top portionsthereof. The top wall and the side walls define an opening for receivingobjects to be stored within the storage unit. The storage unit alsoincludes a cross member that is disposed below the top wall andcooperates with the top wall to provide a door receiving regiontherebetween, an accessory carried by the cross member, and a doorconstructed and arranged to cover the opening when the door is in aclosed position, and to be received by the door receiving region whenthe door is in an open position.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a storage unit witha flipper-type door that stores the door on the inside of the unit withimproved movement between the door and the roof of the unit so that thedoor is not damaged when moved between a closed position and an openposition.

In an embodiment of the invention, a storage unit is disclosed. Thestorage unit includes a pair of opposed side walls that aresubstantially parallel to each other, a rear wall that connects the sidewalls at rear portions thereof, and a top wall that connects the sidewalls at top portions thereof. The top wall and the side walls define anopening for receiving objects to be stored within the storage unit. Thestorage unit also includes a door that is constructed and arranged tocover the opening when the door is in a closed position, and to bedisposed substantially parallel to the top wall on an interior side ofthe top wall when the door is in an open position. The door includes aroller adjacent to a top edge thereof. The roller is constructed andarranged to engage a guide surface within the storage unit when the dooris moved between the closed position and the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which correspondingreference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a storage unit of the presentinvention with a door in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the storage unit of FIG. 1 withthe door in a fully open position;

FIG. 3 a is another bottom perspective view of the storage unit of FIG.2;

FIG. 3 b shows Detail A of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of a left side wall of the storage unit ofFIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the door of the storage unit of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 6 a is a rear view of the door of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 b shows Detail B of FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 7 a is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit along lineVII-VII of FIG. 2, with some of the features removed for clarity;

FIG. 7 b shows Detail C of FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 8 a is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit of FIG. 7 a, withthe door in between the fully open and closed positions;

FIG. 8 b shows Detail D of FIG. 8 a;

FIG. 9 a is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit of FIG. 8 a, withthe door in closer to the closed position;

FIG. 9 b shows Detail E of FIG. 9 a;

FIG. 10 a is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit of FIG. 1 alongline X-X, with some of the features removed for clarity; and

FIG. 10 b shows Detail F of FIG. 10 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a storage unit 10 of the present invention. FIG. 1shows the storage unit 10 with a door 12 in a closed position 14, andFIG. 2 shows the storage unit 10 with the door 12 in an open position16. Movement of the door 12 between the closed position 14 and the openposition 16 will be described in further detail below. For purposes ofthe discussion below, all references to orientation of parts of thestorage unit 10 will be made with the storage unit 10 in its normal,upright position, from the perspective of facing the storage unit 10 onthe side that includes the door 12, which is considered to be the front.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 a, the storage unit 10 also includes a pair ofopposed side walls, including a left side wall 18, and a right side wall20. The side walls 18, 20 are disposed substantially parallel to eachother. Each of the side walls 18, 20 has a top portion 22, 24,respectively, and a rear portion 26, 28, respectively, as shown in FIG.2. The storage unit 10 also includes a rear wall 30 that is connected tothe left side wall 18 at the rear portion 26 of the left side wall 18,and to the right side wall 20 at the rear portion 28 of the right sidewall 20. The side walls 18, 20 and rear wall 30 may be formed from sheetmetal, or any other material known in the art. The rear wall 30 may beconnected to the left and right side walls 18, 20 with fasteners (notshown), or with any other suitable connector, such as welds, etc.Preferably, the rear wall 30 is connected to the left and right sidewalls 18, 20 such that it is substantially perpendicular to each of theleft and right side walls 18, 20. As shown, the rear wall 30 may includea peg board 31 that includes a plurality of holes 33 for receiving aplurality of hooked members, such as hooks, trays with hooks, etc., aswould be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The storage unit 10 also includes a top wall 32, or roof, that isconnected to the top portion 22 of the left side wall 18 at one end, andis connected to the top portion 24 of the right side wall 20 at theopposite end. Preferably, the top wall 32 is also connected to a topportion of the rear wall 30 as well. Like the side walls 18, 20 and rearwall 30, the top wall 32 may be formed from sheet metal, or any othermaterial known in the art. The top wall 32 may be connected to the otherwalls 18, 20, 30 with fasteners 35, as shown in FIG. 1, or with anyother suitable connector, such as welds, etc. Preferably, the top wall32 is connected to the left and right side walls 18, 20 such that it issubstantially perpendicular to each of the left and right side walls 18,20, as well as the rear wall 30. The top wall 32, the left side wall 18,and the right side wall 20 define an opening 34 into the storage unit10.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the storage unit 10 is a hutchthat has an open bottom 38, it is understood that in other embodiments(not shown), the storage unit 10 may be a fully enclosed unit thatincludes a bottom wall. The illustrated embodiment is not intended to belimiting in any way.

As shown in FIG. 3 a, the left side wall 18, the right side wall 20, andthe rear wall 30 may each include a bottom flange, shown at 40, 42, 44,respectively. The bottom flanges 40, 42, 44 are constructed and arrangedto receive fasteners for securely fastening the storage unit 10 toanother unit, or any type of supporting surface, such as a countertop,table, etc. For example, the storage unit 10 may be attached to a lowerunit (not shown) that is placed directly on the floor. The hutch allowsfor the top of the lower unit to be a work surface, as will be discussedin further detail below.

Also shown in FIG. 3 a is a cross member 46 that is disposed below thetop wall 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross member 46 isconnected to the left side wall 18 at one end, and the right side wall20 at the opposite end so that the cross member 46 is substantiallyparallel to the top wall 32, and substantially perpendicular to the leftand right side walls 18, 20. By connecting the cross member 46 to bothside walls 18, 20, the overall rigidity of the storage unit 10 may beimproved. In the embodiment shown, the cross member 46 is connected tothe left side wall 18 via a support assembly 48. It is understood thatanother support assembly (not shown) that mirrors the support assemblymay be used to connect the cross member 46 to the right side wall 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the support assembly 48 includes a pair ofsubstantially vertical supports 50, 52 and a substantially horizontalsupport 54. A first vertical support 50 is connected to the left sidewall 18 at or near a front edge 56 of the left side wall 18. A secondvertical support 52 is connected to the left side wall 18 near the rearportion 26 in a manner that does not interfere with the rear wall 30.The vertical supports 50, 52 may be connected to the left side wall 18with fasteners, or may be welded to the left side wall 18. Thehorizontal support 54 is supported by the vertical supports 50, 52 viaslots 58, 60. Of course, the horizontal support 54 may be supported byor connected to the vertical supports 50, 52 by any other known method.The embodiment illustrated is not intended to be limiting in any way.

The cross member 46 may be supported by and connected to the horizontalsupport 54 by any known method. As shown in FIG. 3 a, and in greaterdetail in FIG. 3 b, the cross member 46 includes a U-shaped (incross-section) channel 62 along a front edge 64 that is constructed andarranged to receive the horizontal support 54. The cross member 46extends back towards the rear wall 30 such that an underside of thecross member 46 provides an unobstructed surface 66 that acts as aceiling for the interior of the storage unit 10. In an embodiment, thecross member 46 is also connected to the rear wall 30.

As mentioned above, the cross member 46 is disposed so that it issubstantially parallel to the top wall 32. The cross member 46 is spacedbelow the top wall 32 at a suitable distance so that a door receivingspace 47 is formed between the cross member 46 and the top wall 32. Thedoor receiving space 47 receives the door 12 when the door 12 is in theopen position 16, as shown in FIG. 7 a.

The arrangement of the cross member 46 allows for the storage of thedoor 12 within the storage unit 10 when the door 12 is in the openposition 16. This allows items to be placed on top of the storage unit10 without having to worry about any interference or obstruction by thedoor 12. The cross member 46 also provides for another surface, i.e. theunderside 66 of the cross member 46, within the storage unit 10 to whichparts may be attached.

In an embodiment, the storage unit 10 includes an accessory 67. Theaccessory 67 may be a light fixture 68 that is configured to beconnected to the underside 66 of the cross member 46 so that theinterior of the storage unit 10 may be illuminated. The light fixture 68may include a power cord 69 that may be fed through the rear wall 30 andplugged into a standard wall outlet, or the light fixture 68 may bepowered by batteries. Of course, the power cord 69 may be fed throughany wall of the storage unit 10. Also, the accessory 67 may include aplurality of hooks 70, shown in greater detail in FIG. 3 b, that areconstructed and arranged to receive and hold tools and other items thatmay be hung from the cross member 46, thereby improving the flexibilityof the storage space created by the storage unit 10. The hooks 70 may beconnected to the cross member 46 with any known attachment device. Forexample, the hooks 70 may include magnets that are attracted to thecross member 46, the hooks 70 may be fastened to the cross member 46, orthe hooks 70 may be connected to the cross member 46 with an adhesive.The hooks 70 illustrated are not intended to be limiting in any way.

The cross member 46 enables a downwardly projecting object carried by orassociated with the accessory 67 to be used without interference fromthe door 12. For example, if hooks were provided on an underside of thetop wall 32, such hooks would be difficult to access when the door 12 isopened. Similarly, if a light source was mounted to the underside of thetop wall 32, light therefrom would be blocked by the door 12 whenopened.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which at least one roller90 is disposed adjacent to a top edge 92 of the door 12. Preferably, atleast two rollers 90 are used. In the illustrated embodiment, fourrollers 90 are connected to the door 12 so that they are positionedadjacent to the top edge 92 of the door 12. The rollers 90 areconstructed and arranged to roll along a guide piece 98, which isdiscussed in further detail below, as the door 12 is moved between theclosed position 14 and the open position 16, thereby allowing forsmoother movement of the door 12 between the two positions 14, 16.Movement of the door 12 relative to the rest of the storage unit 10 willbe discussed in further detail below. The rollers 90 may also helpprevent the marring of an outer door surface 94 of the door 12 duringopening and closing of the door 12, particularly if the alignment of thedoor 12 relative to the top wall 32 changes.

Also shown in the figures are a pair of handles 96 that are configuredto receive a person's hand so that the user may grasp at least one ofthe handles 96, and move the door 12 between the closed position 14 andthe open position 16, i.e. from the closed position 14 to the openposition 16, and vice-versa. The handles 96 may be of any known design,and the handles 96 illustrated are not intended to be limiting in anyway.

As shown in FIG. 6 a, the storage unit 10 may also include at least onedoor guide device 72 that guides the door 12 between the closed position14 and the open position 16. In the illustrated embodiment, four doorguide devices 72 are operatively connected to both the door 12, on aback side 73 thereof, and to the cross member 46 such that the door 12both pivots and slides relative to the cross member 46. Any type of doorguide device 72 may be used, so long as the door 12 is able to movebetween the closed position 14, as shown in FIG. 1, and the openposition 16, as shown in FIG. 2, with relatively little effort by theuser.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment, each door guide device 72includes a hinge 74 that is connected to the front edge 64 and a bottomedge 65 of the cross member 46 when the door is installed, as shown inFIG. 3 b, and a door slide 76 that is connected to the back side 73 ofthe door 12, as shown in FIG. 6 a. A damper 78, shown in greater detailin FIG. 6 b, is also included to provide a more controlled movement ofthe door 12 relative to the cross member 46. As shown, the damper 78includes a hydraulic cylinder 80 that provides resistance when the door12 is moved from the open position 16 to the closed position 14, andprovide controlled assistance when the door 12 is moved from the closedposition 14 to the open position 16. Such a door guide device is knownin the art, and details of an example of such a device may be found inU.S. Pat. No. 5,758,937, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The storage unit 10 may also include a lock 82, shown in FIG. 6 a, thatis constructed and arranged to lock the door 12 when the door 12 is inthe closed position 14. The lock 82 may be of a known construction thatincludes a pair of slidable arms 84 that engage the left and right sidewalls 18, 20 at a slot 86 contained in each wall 18, 20. The slidablearms 84 are connected to a rotatable barrel 88 that is configured toreceive a key. Rotation of the barrel 88 actuates the slidable arms 84either outwardly, thereby positioning the arms 84 into the slots 86, orinwardly, thereby allowing the door 12 to move relative to the rest ofthe storage unit 10. Of course, other types of locks that are known inthe art may be used, and the illustrated embodiment is not intended tobe limiting in any way.

FIGS. 7 a-10 b illustrate the movement of the door 12 relative to thecross-member 46 and the top wall 32. As shown in the figures, the guidepiece 98 may be provided to assist in guiding the rollers 90 of the door12 as the door 12 moves between the closed 14 and open 16 positions. Theguide piece 98 is preferably disposed adjacent to the top wall 32, andmay be attached to the side walls 18, 20, or to the top wall 32 itself.The guide piece 98 provides a guide surface 100, 102 that includes aparallel surface 100 that is substantially parallel to the top wall 32and the cross member 46, and a ramped surface 102 that is connected tothe parallel surface 100 and extends toward the top of the top wall 32.Although the guide piece 98 is illustrated to be a separate piece, itmay be integrated with the top wall 32 itself. The illustratedembodiment is not intended to be limiting in any way.

After the storage unit 10 has been placed at its desired location, itmay be attached to the lower unit, table, or any other support on whichit sits. As discussed above, fasteners may be used with the holesprovided in the bottom flanges 40, 42, 44 of the side walls 18, 20, andthe rear wall 30. Once the storage unit 10 is securely fastened to itssupport, items may be stored within the storage unit 10, either directlyon the support surface, or attached to the cross member 46 via theplurality of hooks 70, or attached to the peg board 31 on the rear wall30 with a plurality of hooked members. When not in use, the door 12 ofthe storage unit 10 may be moved to the closed position 14, and the lock82 may be engaged to lock the door 12 in the closed position 14.

FIG. 7 a shows the door 12 in the fully open position 16. As shown inFIGS. 7 a and 7 b, in this position, the door 12 is within the doorreceiving space 47 and rests on the cross member 46, and the roller 90does not engage any surface of the storage unit 10. When the user wouldlike to close the storage unit 10 and move the door 12 to the closedposition 14, the user may grasp the handles 96, and start to pull thedoor 12 outward and toward the front of the unit 10, as shown in FIG. 8a. Once the door 12 is pulled out of the door receiving space 47 asufficient amount, the door 12 is allowed to pivot via the hinge 74until the roller 90 engages the parallel surface 100 of the guide piece98, which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 8 b. At this position,guidance of the door 12 is provided by the roller 90 and the door guidedevice 72 along the door slide 76.

As the user continues to pull the door 12 towards the closed position14, the roller 90 engages the ramped surface 102 of the guide piece 98,as shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. This allows the door 12 to pivot relativeto the cross member 46 a greater amount, as can be seen in the figures.As the door 12 continues to slide along the door slide 76 and the rollerengages the underside of the top wall 32, the door 12 may fully pivotand finally rest in the closed position 14, as shown in FIG. 10 a. Asshown in greater detail in FIG. 10 b, when the door 12 is in the closedposition 14, the damper 78 is positioned at the top of the slide 76, andthe roller 90 does not engage any surface. The lock 82 may be used tolock the door 12 in the closed position 14.

To access items in the storage unit 10 and/or use the support surface asa work surface, the lock 82 may be disengaged, thereby allowing the door12 to be moved to the open position 16. The user may grasp one or,preferably both, of the handles 96, and pivot the door 12 so that thebottom of the door 12 is pulled outward from the rest of the storageunit 10. Once the door 12 has been pivoted a sufficient amount, the door12 may be slid along the door slides 76 so that the door 12 slidesrelative to the cross member 46. The rollers 90 help guide the door 12relative to the top wall 32 along the guide piece 98 in a manner inreverse of the movement discussed above, so that the door 12 openssmoothly. The door 12 moves into the door receiving space 47 between thetop wall 32 and the cross member 46 as it is slid, and rests on thecross member 46 when in the fully open position 16. Once the door 12 isin the open position 16, the items that have been stored in the storageunit 10 may be accessed easily, and the support surface may be used as awork surface.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, they are not intended to be limiting in any respect. To thecontrary, the invention is intended to encompass all variations andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A storage unit comprising: a pair of opposed side walls that aresubstantially parallel to each other; a rear wall connecting the sidewalls at rear portions thereof; a top wall connecting the side walls attop portions thereof, said top wall and said side walls defining anopening for receiving objects to be stored within said storage unit; across member connected to each side wall and disposed below said topwall and cooperating with said top wall to define a door receiving spacewithin said storage unit; and a door constructed and arranged to coversaid opening when said door is in a closed position, and to be receivedby said door receiving space when said door is in an open position.
 2. Astorage unit according to claim 1, further comprising a door slide forhingedly mounting said door to said cross member, said door slideallowing sliding and pivoting movement of said door relative to saidcross member when said door is moved between said closed position andsaid open position.
 3. A storage unit according to claim 2, wherein thedoor slide comprises a damper for dampening movement of the doorrelative to the cross member.
 4. A storage unit according to claim 1,wherein the door rests on a top side of the cross member when the dooris in the open position.
 5. A storage unit according to claim 1, whereinan underside surface of the cross member is constructed and arranged toreceive a light fixture.
 6. A storage unit according to claim 1, whereinan underside surface of the cross member is constructed and arranged toreceive a plurality of storage hooks.
 7. A storage unit according toclaim 1, wherein each side wall comprises a support assembly forsupporting the cross member.
 8. A storage unit according to claim 7,wherein each support assembly comprises a pair of substantially verticalsupports and a substantially horizontal support connected to saidvertical supports, said cross member being connected to said horizontalsupport of each side wall.
 9. A storage unit according to claim 1,wherein said door comprises a roller adjacent to a top edge thereof,said roller being constructed and arranged to roll against a guidesurface within the storage unit when the door is moved between theclosed position and the open position.
 10. A storage unit according toclaim 9, wherein the door comprises a plurality of rollers adjacent to atop edge thereof.
 11. A storage unit comprising: a pair of opposed sidewalls that are substantially parallel to each other; a rear wallconnecting the side walls at rear portions thereof; a top wallconnecting the side walls at top portions thereof, said top wall andsaid side walls defining an opening for receiving objects to be storedwithin said storage unit; and a door constructed and arranged to coversaid opening when said door is in a closed position, and to be disposedsubstantially parallel to said top wall on an interior side of the topwall when said door is in an open position, said door comprising aroller adjacent to a top edge thereof, said roller being constructed andarranged to engage a guide surface within the storage unit when saiddoor is moved between said closed position and said open position.
 12. Astorage unit according to claim 11, wherein the door comprises aplurality of rollers adjacent to the top edge thereof.
 13. A storageunit according to claim 11, further comprising a cross member connectedto each side wall such that the cross member is substantially parallelto and spaced away from said top wall to define a door receiving spacewithin said storage unit, said door being supported by said cross memberwhen said door is in said open position.
 14. A storage unit according toclaim 13, further comprising a door slide for hingedly mounting saiddoor to said cross member, said door slide allowing sliding and pivotingmovement of said door relative to said cross member when said door ismoved between said closed position and said open position.
 15. A storageunit according to claim 14, wherein the door slide comprises a damperfor dampening movement of the door relative to the cross member.
 16. Astorage unit comprising: a pair of opposed side walls that aresubstantially parallel to each other; a rear wall connecting the sidewalls at rear portions thereof; a top wall connecting the side walls attop portions thereof, said top wall and said side walls defining anopening for receiving objects to be stored within said storage unit; across member disposed below said top wall, said cross member cooperatingwith said top wall to provide a door receiving region therebetween; anaccessory carried by the cross member; and a door constructed andarranged to cover said opening when said door is in a closed position,and to be received by said door receiving region when said door is in anopen position.
 17. A storage unit according to claim 16, furthercomprising a door slide for hingedly mounting said door to said crossmember, said door slide allowing sliding and pivoting movement of saiddoor relative to said cross member when said door is moved between saidclosed position and said open position.
 18. A storage unit according toclaim 17, wherein the door slide comprises a damper for dampeningmovement of the door relative to the cross member.
 19. A storage unitaccording to claim 16, wherein the door rests on a top side of the crossmember when the door is in the open position.
 20. A storage unitaccording to claim 16, wherein the accessory comprises a light fixturecarried by an underside surface of the cross member.
 21. A storage unitaccording to claim 16, wherein the accessory comprises an undersidesurface of the cross member that is constructed and arranged to receiveda plurality of storage hooks.
 22. A storage unit according to claim 16,wherein each side wall comprises a support assembly for supporting thecross member.
 23. A storage unit according to claim 22, wherein eachsupport assembly comprises a pair of substantially vertical supports anda substantially horizontal support connected to said vertical supports,said cross member being connected to said horizontal support of eachside wall.
 24. A storage unit according to claim 16, wherein said doorcomprises a roller adjacent to a top edge thereof, said roller beingconstructed and arranged to roll against a guide surface within thestorage unit when the door is moved between the closed position and theopen position.
 25. A storage unit according to claim 24, wherein thedoor comprises a plurality of rollers adjacent to the top edge thereof.